https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog.atomManzanita Kids - Little Sapling Toys Blog2018-12-12T12:20:00-08:00Manzanita Kidshttps://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/gift-guide-for-any-mom2018-12-12T12:20:00-08:002018-12-14T13:16:52-08:00Gift Guide for Any MomBrooke Fisher
We have a lot of small shop favorites, but these are some of our very favorites. You may want to forward this to your partner. ;)

Made by Mary

You know them and you love them, and if you don’t know them I think you will love them. One of our favorite places to buy a gift is Made by Mary. This jewelry company is for the trendy minimalist and also the sentimental. The quality of the jewelry is amazing and all handmade.

What we love: If you’re a Kimber, you love the minimalist stacking rings with a sleek design. These rings are gorgeous and go with any outfit. If you’re a Brooke, you love the hand-stamped necklaces. You can get any name, date, or even location stamped on a necklace to always remember your favorite days.

Click here to shop. Use LITTLEHOLIDAY for 10% off until the end of the year!

Wildbird

This one is for the moms with little ones. Slings are the perfect way to carry your baby close to you around the house and out and about. There are so many gorgeous options to pick from, so you can find one that best fits your own personal style. The sling below is the "Kingfisher" color and it is marvelous.

What we love: Any of their amazingly soft Modal slings. These slings are so easy to use and are super high quality, plus the colors they offer are so fun and vibrant…it’s hard not to love them.

Fawn Design is a diaper bag company based out of Utah. They make amazing faux-leather bags and accessories for moms at all stages. Not only are their products adorable, but their customer service is amazing. These bags are meant to last and they really stand behind that.

What We Love: We have all seen the gorgeous Original Fawn Deisgn bag out and about, but we have recently fallen in love with their Fawn Mini and Fawny Pack. If you are packing light, these two bags are perfect.

Their holiday sale is still going on until tonight (Friday). Click here to shop.

ToteSavvy

To all the moms who like switching their bags up from time to time, get your hands on a ToteSavvy! These little beauties are made for the mom on the go who loves a lot of organization in their lives. Their organizers come with a changing pad along with all the unique compartments.

What we love: The waterproof pocket is great for anyone. Not only can you put your bottle in it, but you can also store other things in there for safekeeping that can't get wet!

Are you an avid multitasker/phone dropper? This is the product for you! I graduated to the Loopy case from the PopSocket over the summer, and I absolutely love my Loopy Case. Not only do they feature the amazing benefit of phone retention, but they are also incredibly protective and cute!

What we love: Unlike the PopSocket, Loopy cases offer the capability to reach all parts of your phone screen. Since the loop on the back of the phone is stretchy, it definitely stretches where you need it to. Another thing that I love about the Loopy case is that it is very convenient to hold with other things. I usually carry my phone by the loop and it has held strong for sure.

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/back-to-school-activities-for-the-whole-family2018-09-05T20:36:00-07:002018-09-13T20:49:47-07:00Back to School Activities for the Whole FamilyBrooke Fisher
Raise your hand if you miss summer. Everyone should be raising their hands. Just because school has started doesn't mean it's time to be boring. Here are a few fun activities you can do with your littles and your significant other after school and work.

1. Make a Fun After School Snack

Photo from Dylbug.com

We love the fun personalized plates you can get from Dylbug. Take the time to get creative with your little ones and their after school snacks. Even if you don't have a personalized plate, we give you permission to play with your food.

2. Pick a Family Show to Watch Once a Week

If TV isn't your thing, skip this tidbit.

Pick a TV show (maybe one that's on the air in real time) and sit down as a family to watch it every week at the same time. Make it something the kiddos look forward to. Include a family treat or ritual to go along with this activity.

3. Draw Family Portraits

You know those picture-perfect first day of school photos you see on Instagram? Create your own with your family but instead of perfectly curating it with your iPhone, draw it! Every family member should draw themselves, even the parents! Put them up where you can see them before everyone leaves for work and school.

4. Make a time capsule to open at the end of the school year!

Time capsules are supposed to be put away for years, but kid's lives change so quickly, it will be fun to do a time capsule of all of their favorite things at the beginning of the year. Make a sheet with some of their faves on it.

5. Make something together!

Treats or crafts are great. My thought is to go to treats. I just tried these the other day and they are ridiculous. Teaching your kids a skill when they are young will stick with them forever (Thanks, mom).

Bonus: Whatever you make can be shared with your little's new friends at school! Yay for sharing.

6. Build a Town or Village with Blocks

Encourage creativity and imagination by building a little town or fortress with building blocks or legos. This is a fun one because everyone can have a hand in it, even the adults. Come up with a storyline for the new town and build your vision. Take it even further, make blueprints before you start to teach your kids about planning a project.

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/mom-isms-and-dad-isms-youll-love2018-09-05T19:30:00-07:002018-09-13T21:02:10-07:00Mom-isms and Dad-isms You'll love.Brooke Fisher
We've compiled a few of our favorite parent-isms that we think you're going to love. ;)

1. The game show excitement we never really understood.

2. Don't worry about the small things! You're killin' it!

3. Remember how "fun" college was?

4. Don't you love designer things?

5. The "terrible twos" are pretty scary...

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/5-ways-to-announce-your-pregnancy2018-07-06T07:30:00-07:002018-07-06T07:30:00-07:005 Ways to Announce Your PregnancyBrooke Fisher
If you're reading this, chances are that you are expecting a little one! Here are a few of the cutest pregnancy announcements with sources included!

Flatlays with a Countdown

This beautiful Flatlay was styled by @pineandpoppyshop for her very own Pregnancy. Age blocksare great for pregnancy countdowns as well as counting up the days your baby has been with you.

Not announcement related, but still amazing. If you haven't heard ofDockATot, you're missing out. This is the next best thing to the womb. It is a comforting place for your little one to sleep and relax while mama showers, works or plays. Definitely check one out.

Classic Sonogram Photo

This is so intimate and so sweet. Chelsea, from Sloppy Elegance, and her husband nailed this photo. Looks like their fur baby is also pretty excited about it, too. Whether you hire a photographer or use a self timer, this picture is so sweet and simple to execute. Don't forget to smile!

Letterboards

If you've been paying attention, Letter Boards are in! Letter boards can be used for the holidays, birthdays, wifi passwords, and more. Get one at your local Target or order one on Amazon Prime here.

Use a Book

This is one of the cutest ideas I've seen in a long time, but I'm a huge Dr. Seuss fan! This idea was curated by Yellow Wishbone. Gather up a Hop on Popbook and an Are You My Motherbook, and voila! You have a darling announcement.

Humor

I'm all for a creative post! The one below is from Blushing Crow shows the real side of pregnancy-- all the cravings and all the help you can get. I'll let this one speak for itself, because it needs no introductions...

﻿Let us know how you let your family and friends in on your pregnancy!

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/purchase-with-a-purpose2018-06-29T10:15:00-07:002018-06-29T10:21:14-07:00Purchase with a PurposeBrooke Fisher
Here at Little Sapling Toys we love trees! (Can you tell? ;)) We love trees so much that we plant a tree for every toy bought.

Purchasing with a purpose is a big deal to us. Since you are part of our tribe, we think you like purchasing with a purpose as well. We have compiled a few of our favorite companies that really hit the mark with their charitable efforts.

Patagonia

Patagonia is an apparel company that focuses on the environment. You can even use your location to see service projects in your area sponsored by Patagonia!

According to Patagonia.com, " [Patagonia] has pledged 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. That calculates to just over $89 million in cash straight to charities that benefit mother earth.

Causebox

Calling all subscription box lovers! This is the subscription you don't want to pass up. For just $49.99-54.95 you will get 6-8 items from leading socially conscious brands. "[Causebox] tell[s] you why a brand gives back, who they are directly impacting, and where their products are made." This will further introduce you to other brands that give back!

Causebox partners with multiple charities to boost their visibility, credibility and valuation and a small portion of their sales will also go to that charity! Some charities they have worked with in the past include: Freedom Firm, Speak Your Silence, The Jessie Reese Foundation, Trees for the Future, Books for Africa, and more!

Everlane

Everlane, a clothing company, donates $5 to the American Civil Liberties Union for every 100% Human product sold. This is a good brand to focus on right now because of all the division in the world. Your purchase will make a difference.

Not only are they super charitable, but they are also extremely ethical. Their site shows you who is making the clothes and gives statistics on the goals they try to exceed. Their employees are treated like family. Every employee matters at Everlane.

Cuddle and Kind

Cuddle and Kind makes the most adorable stuffed dolls for your little ones. With every purchase, C+K donates a meal to a child in need. They will often have boosted campaigns where every doll bought gives 10 meals away.

Toms

You know them and you love them. For every pair of shoes Toms sells, they will donate a pair to a kid in need in a third world country. Their mantra is "One for one." The company has donated over 1 million pairs of shoes.

The company they are working with right now is Magic Bus. According to their latest article, "Magic Bus addresses key constraints in children’s education and livelihood by bringing them back into schools, addressing systemic inequalities through community buy-in, and integrating adolescent boys into the conversation on gender equality." Sign us up!

What are some of your favorite companies that promote purchasing with a purpose? Leave a note in the comments!

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/7-ways-to-save-on-essential-baby-products2018-06-20T17:30:00-07:002018-06-20T20:49:57-07:007 Ways to Save on Essential Baby ProductsBrooke FisherEditor's Note: Sam, lover of wooden toys and the genius over at MovingBabies.com, wrote this lovely article on how to shop savvy for your little one. Enjoy!

Are you having trouble with saving money? Do you consistently find yourself on that aisle in the mall buying baby products that you are not sure your child will need? Do not worry; most parents have been there. You know, not everyone is a natural-born money saver. As a new parent also, you might be confused on what your child requires if you have no one to guide you. It is, however, imperative knowing how to budget and lucky for you, there are several simple-yet-effective ways to save for the baby.

Be A Savvy Momanager With These Simple Tips

If you are a new parent or are expecting a baby, it is vital to realize that there are ways to help you cut down on expenses. Here are some ways you can start.

Purchase Second-Hand Clothes and Baby Gear

Most consignment shops are full of great maternity and baby clothes as well as gear and furniture. Your child does not know the difference between consignment or designer clothes. Therefore, for his first year, save and get him second-hand clothes. He will soon outgrow them.

You can look at getting larger items such as swings, bouncers or high chairs for next to nothing on business websites.

Buy Items According to the Urgency

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell what your baby needs until you get to know and observe him or her. A car seat (either using a convertible or a travel system option) is a non-negotiable, but you may not yet know if you would prefer a jogging stroller or a regular top-rated baby stroller. And with online ordering and next day delivery, you don’t need to make these decisions too far in advance.

Swaddlers, for example: some babies love being swaddled, while others despise it. So you can begin with just one or two options like a cotton swaddling blanket, and a Velcro swaddle sleeper. If your little angel giggles at the idea of being wrapped, you can get more swaddling clothes later. However, if she hates it, you will not have wasted money on items that you will never use.

Powder Up With Affordable Formulas

When all goes south, and you have no option but to offer your child formula, use the powder version rather than the ready-to-feed cans. They aren’t difficult to mix and they are super easy to travel with and offer you a 50% saving over the canned options. You can also get free samples from the hospitals. There are medical facilities that provide new parents formula but upon requests. So, stock up!

Befriend the Local Librarian and Borrow Books

Your baby will most likely love to be read to every night. The problem is that books can be expensive each. One trip every month to the local library will give him plenty of variety without putting strain on your budget.

Buy Toys That are Built to Last

If this is your first child and you’re wanting to have more children down the line, buy things that will last. Quality wooden blocks and push toys will withstand anything - even toddlers - and are much better for them than flashing, battery operated plastic toys.

Accept Hand-Me-Downs

When your other mom friends, relatives and friends offer you their tiny baby clothes, be polite and accept them. You can snag some essentials from friends and neighbors who no longer needed baby gear. As a result, you will save yourselves hundreds of dollars by merely requesting and not being picky.

Freeze Your Leftovers

The last thing any parent is going to want to do once their little sunshine graces their home is cook dinner-decisions that lead to the ordering of food and spending money. Fortunately for you, you can avoid this by pre-making meals during the last few weeks of your pregnancy and freeze them. When you get home, you just have to pull out a meal, warm it up and you will be good to go.

Without a doubt, your precious child is going to cost you a lot of money, especially in her first years, but before you blink, your angel will be a full-fledged toddler, and the days of diapering and purchasing new clothes every other week will be far behind you.

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/cheap-family-friendly-summer-activities2018-06-06T21:24:00-07:002018-06-19T21:26:19-07:00Cheap Family Friendly Summer ActivitiesBrooke Fisher
Now that your kiddos are out of school, it's time to PLAY! Here are a few ways we like to spend our summer.

Go to the Park (and pool)!

So classic and oh, so fun! One of our Little Sapling Players, Jessie, takes her little lady to swing. Being outside and out of the house is great for you and your kiddos equally. Going to the park will encourage your little to love Mother Earth early on.

Some parks are connected to community pools with splash pads. This is an awesome way to cool off and giggle a lot with your family. Bigger kids can stay cool in the pool. Younger ones can have fun too! LST Player Shelby takes her 7 month old cutie to the pool and it's a great way for them to cool down.

Go to the Library

Most local libraries have scheduled reading times that are free for you and your little one to attend. While your kids are listening to the books, grab your own book and enjoy or take the time to meditate and focus on mama self-care.

Our friend, and LST Player, Melissa also mentioned us that her library hosts events as part of a summer series. Libraries go beyond the books. Sometimes you may run into a magician, other times you may meet a snake expert.

Inquire at your local library.

Serve your Neighbors

Teach your little ones to love those around them early. This activity isn’t 100% free, but most of the time you can find a goodie to bake and deliver. If you want to keep this activity free, ask a neighbor if you can walk their dog or pull some weeds for them.

Home Depot Projects

Select Home Depot’s offer FREE activities for kids on certain days. This can be painting wooden toys, making a bird feeder, and much, much more. Look up your zip code and register here. Sometimes they even have workshops for parents, too! Hello DIYers!

Photo courtesy of Home Depot

Watch the Sunset/Sunrise

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how beautiful sunsets and sunrises can be! Most kids wake up before the sunrise anyways, right? Take breakfast/dinner to the park or on a short hike, find a good spot and just let Mother Earth light up the sky.

This can even be done from the comfort of your own backyard. LST Player Jennifer has been in full-blown baby-wearing mode all summer. Her two mobile littles love being outside. This activity would be perfect for a family with kids on-the-go.

Stay inside with Sensory Toys

LST Player Taylor reminded us how much we love sensory toys. They are cheap and keep the kiddos entertained for a long time. This is a good indoor activity that helps parents and kiddos beat the heat.

We love water beads and sensory sand. They are so much fun! Parents will need to keep an eye on their littlest kiddos, but older kids can play for hours on end with sensory toys.

Photo courtesy of Amazon

Let us know what summer activities your family likes to do in the comments!

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/10-years-of-wooden-toys2018-05-08T23:00:00-07:002018-05-25T17:25:30-07:0010 Years of Wooden ToysBrooke Fisher
We recently had a few (hundred) of our closest friends come over to celebrate our 10th birthday! Our best-selling teether was the muse for this shindig.

Here is a recap of our donut & sprinkle themed birthday party, starting with our co-star of the show:sprinkles and donuts! We got these AMAZING donuts from Winco. They always aim to please.

(Side note: These tablecloths were adorable! They are from Target. So, so cute.)

Toys were of course the co-star to the donuts and sprinkles. After ten years of making and selling wooden toys, we had to make sure our tiny guests had a hands-on experience with some of our best-sellers. Guests were invited to take a favor bag with them that had a limited-edition donut teether, photo props and some coupons from a few of our friends.

There were plenty of activities for adults and kids alike. In-house kid and employee Rex gave shop tours. He is a true natural who was a pro giving information along with some jokes.

Guests were also invited to color and play at our sensory table. Little party-goers loved the cloud dough and water beads.

Nick, co-owner and master-woodworker, made this beautiful table for our front room. Having a birthday party was the perfect reason to get it set up and ready.

Party-goers were able to enter three separate giveaways while attending the party. These giveaways included gifts from Copper Pearl, Finn Bibs, PC by Taby credit, Lovely Sprouts, and of course Little Sapling Toys.

﻿Extra credit: ﻿For every person that showed up, we planted a tree in their name. We planted over 100 trees with the help of all of our party animals!

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used to make plastics and other products. It has a bad reputation because it is often linked to cancer, infertility and other scary consequences.

The FDA is constantly looking for alternatives to this synthetic material and are also looking for ways to make it safer for humans. Their efforts have produced over 40 years of research and improvements. BPA has been deemed okay in small exposure. Chances are that you will not be affected, but if you are worried, here are a few safer alternatives to plastic toys, pacifiers and bottles.

BPA Free Baby Bottles

The jury is still out on this one, but we have been researching BPA-free bottles to give to our little ones. The people of Amazon have spoken and this is the best-seller that mimics the mother's nipple.

This bottle BPA-Free polypropylene material is easy to sterilize. It's not completely free of BPA, but this company has done a good job to spread awareness and shed some light on ways to "fight" BPA in the home.

Wooden Toys

Wooden toys are the perfect alternative to plastic toys. If you can think of any non-battery toy, there is probably a wooden alternative. Imagine your favorite stacker as a kid: There's a wooden alternative, and it's much more attractive. The added bonus for switching to wooden toys is that you will want to leave them out.

Wooden Teethers

On that same note, wooden teethers are a GREAT switch if you are concerned about BPA. Babies teeth on wooden cribs all the time, so why not give the people what they want?

We make solid maple wooden teethers in over 30 styles for every baby's taste. Use LOYAL10 to get 10% off your purchase on littlesaplingtoys.com.

BPA-Free Storage Bowls

Baby food storage is necessary if you are experimenting with solid foods and making your own baby food. Most bowls are made with BPA, so we found an alternative that didn't contain BPA. These bowls are the perfect answer to this worry.

These are also better than glass so you don't risk breaking the bowls during your busy feeding hours. With a 4.7 star on Amazon, it is safe to say that these are perfect for your little one's food (and yours, too!)

What are some of your favorite eco-friendly products? Let us know in the comments!

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/sapling-birthday2018-04-24T23:04:00-07:002018-05-16T23:19:49-07:00Our Favorite Sapling Birthday GiftsBrooke Fisher
As our birthday celebration comes to a close, we wanted to celebrate everyone that came to our party and/or contributed to the festivities. Not only did these companies contribute, they are also a few of our FAVORITES

Copper Pearl; Swaddles, bibs and burp cloths

Copper Pearl is an amazing company based out of Utah. They make the softest products ever! They are a go-to baby shower gift for me. You can get their products from their site or on Amazon PRIME which definitely sweetens the deal.

Two couples run Copper Pearl, and they are amazing people. They often pop up on their Instagram so be sure to give them a follow so you can get to know them too!

Copper Pearl makes swaddles, hats, bibs and burp cloths. They are always on trend and beautiful. We were so honored to have them as part of the celebration.

PC by Taby; Permanent Makeup

Taby from Permanent Cosmetics by Taby stopped by to party with us and graciously donated a treatment and coupon codes for all those who attended our party. Her goal is to make women feel amazing be enhancing the beauty they already have.

Finn Bibs; Essential Oil Infused Bibs

Our friends at Finn Bibs left us with some coupon codes for all of our party-goers.

Finn Bibs make the only bibs on the market with an essential oil diffuser pad to supplement your baby with all of your favorite essential oils.

Didn't get to make it to the party? No worries! You can use "LITTLESAPLING" for 20% off your order. The owner of this company is a total Boss Babe. Support a fellow mama by purchasing one of these innovative bibs.

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/a-tree-for-every-follower2018-04-23T21:17:00-07:002018-04-24T21:24:49-07:00A Tree for Every Follower Press ReleaseBrooke Fisher
OREM, Utah -- Little Sapling Toys (LST), a modern wooden toy company is celebrating Earth Day/Month by planting a tree for every new follower they get in the month of April. This is a big opportunity to give Mother Earth a "thank you" gift.

For every toy sold, Little Sapling Toys plants a tree through "Trees for the Future." With the help of their awesome customers, over 94,000 trees have been planted. LST's goal is to hit the 100,000 mark by the end of April.

The founder of Little Sapling Toys, Kimber Christensen, is very passionate about this campaign because trees are what started it all.

"We've been steadily building toward our goal of 100,000 trees for ten years. The idea of planting a tree for every new Instagram follower is an incredible culmination of the connection we've formed with our Instagram community and what we're able to give back to the earth." stated Kimber, "Thank you, from every corner of our hearts!"

There will be more ways to plant a tree this month including attendance at Little Sapling Toys birthday party on April 23rd at their headquarters in Orem, Utah.

More information will be given on social media throughout the month of April.

About Little Sapling Toys

Little Sapling Toys, a modern wooden toy company, was founded in 2008 in Eureka, California. After bouncing around the company six times, the company now resides in Orem, Utah. Their mission is to give parents confidence in the toys they buy. With every toy purchased, Little Sapling Toys plants a tree through Trees for the Future.

﻿About Trees for the Future﻿﻿

Trees for the Future (TREES) is an international development nonprofit that meets a triple bottom line by planting trees: poverty alleviation, hunger eradication, and healing the environment. Through our Forest Garden Approach we train farmers to plant and manage Forest Gardens that sustainably feed families, raise their incomes by 400 percent, and end deforestation. TREES receives donations to implement our work in areas where we can have the greatest impact. We currently work across 5 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: Cameroon, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. Since 1989, TREES has planted over 150 million trees.

Please direct further questions to Brooke Fisher at collaborations@littlesaplingtoys.com.

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/10-years-of-lst2018-04-20T21:07:00-07:002018-04-24T21:07:56-07:0010 Years of LSTBrooke Fisher
10 years ago a young Nick and Kimber decided they wanted to make their son, Rex, his own wooden toys. Their first collection started with rattles and teethers. Some of these very same designs are still being used at Little Sapling Toys today.

We are doing a few awesome things to celebrate 10 years of selling wooden toys.

On Monday, April 23rd we are having a party at our HQ in Orem, Utah. There will be games, donuts, and plenty of giveaways.

During the entire month of April we will be planting a tree through our partner, Trees for the Future. We are really excited as we are about to hit 100,000 trees! It is impeccable timing since this month is heavily focused on the earth.

If you can't celebrate with us in person, you can still celebrate with us on our social media via @littlesaplingtoys! We will see you there!

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/fulfilling-your-orders2018-04-10T23:00:00-07:002018-04-10T23:00:00-07:00Fulfilling Your OrdersBrooke Fisher
If you have been part of our family throughout the last year or so, you know we have made a couple big changes beyond wooden toys that came together all at once.

At the beginning of March, we moved to a fulfillment center in Orem, Utah just down the road from our shop. Since this change you will now receive packages from an address called "ShipStud." They are a great team and we are so excited to be working with them.

The reason we made this big change was to minimize production time and maximize order accuracy. This also means we are unable to personalize toys excluding growth charts, stools, and ornaments. We will keep these items for the foreseeable future.

Another change that comes from this will be growth chart and stool shipping. Stools and growth charts will ship on Wednesdays. ﻿If you need it ASAP, we can do the best we can but it is not guaranteed.

Now that we don't ship out of our main office, we have more time to engineer new toys, connect with our customers and solve any problems with orders that may arise.

If you have any questions about our big move, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at customercare@littlesaplingtoys.com! Thank you so much for being part of our family!

Learning can be tricky with kids who have autism, and visuals can help. In honor of Autism Awareness month, we wanted to come up with a wooden toy to help with visual learning. These blocks were inspired by all little learners getting to know their everyday surroundings. My World Blocks feature nine emotions, weather conditions, transportation, shapes, animals and everyday objects.

Montessori Toys and Montessori Learning are named after their Dr. Maria Montessori, the first woman physician in Italy. Montessori preschools are meant for ages 3-6. Montessori schools are four-fold. They include: practical life, sensory, language and reading, and mathematics.

Practical life skills include painting, cooking, and other activities.

Sensory learning is built around learning visual discrimination through shapes, color and feel. This area includes stacking blocks and building towers.

Language and reading starts with reading aloud to learn each letter.

Mathematics is taught through hands on, tangible multiplication games using materials like beads.

Montessori learning is an independent approach allowing young ones to feel in control and important.

Waldorf Toys & Learning

﻿The Waldorf teaching approach and waldorf toys focus solely on imagination. An Austrian scientist and philosopher, Rudolf Steiner, coined the term "Waldorf." He focused solely on the connection of the heart, head, and hands.

Waldorf teaching and learning is done in seven-year cycles. The first cycle focuses on pretend play and imitation. The second cycle is typically done with the same teacher from grades 1-8. Waldorf teachers lead creativity. This setting is very much like playtime at home.

Waldorf toys tend to be minimal in design so little ones can use their imagination and creativity. Pretend play is the best friend to this style of learning.

Both the Montessori and Waldorf styles of learning are great. It is up to you to choose what is the best for your little one(s).

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/toys-that-help-develop-social-skills2018-03-20T23:00:00-07:002018-04-03T21:39:09-07:00Toys that Help Develop Social SkillsBrooke FisherToys that Help Develop Social Skills

Children learn many skills through play such as language and speech, hand-eye coordination and problem solving (to name a few) but none so much as the social skills necessary for them to get along with other people and build healthy and durable relationships.

While play seems like such a commonplace occurrence in a child’s life, the act itself is extremely meaningful to their growth and development. As children grow and develop, they experience 6 stages of play:

Unoccupied Play: (ages 0-2) Child does not actively play with others and watches random movements.

Onlooker Play: (ages 2-3) Child watches others play but does not participate or interact.

Collaborative Play: (ages 4-5) Child works together with peers to achieve a goal.

It is during stages 5 and 6 (associative and collaborative play) that children begin to develop the fundamental skills for their social development:

Sharing

Turn taking

Teamwork

Peer communication

Following rules

Providing the right toys and activities for growing and developing children can help impact the strength of their social development and the stages of play. Here are some ideas for toys that can help your child develop associative play and collaborative play skills:

Pretend Play

It is in pretend play that children can practice social situations (such as trips to the doctor or caring for a child) or engage in imaginative worlds that exercise their creativity skills. Children must work together to create the pretend play scenarios and agree upon the rules within that world. Pretend play is a great practice in empathy since children experience someone else’s role, such as playing house and pretending to be a mom and playing school and pretending to be a teacher.

Costumes and props are great materials for encouraging pretend play.

Sports Toys Providing your children with sports-related toys such as balls, badminton rackets and plastic golf clubs allows them the opportunity to practice following rules, working with different people and communicating with others. Children can work together to make up a game and agree upon the rules. Much like board games, these toys foster a sense of fair play and encourages children to deal with the emotional aspects of winning and losing.

There is a reason why toys like building blocks have survived the test of time – These versatile toys, apart from strengthening other areas of development, provide an outlet for children to work together, share and communicate to complete a goal or task, whether it be designing and building a castle to planning and constructing a race track.

To a child, play is a fun and exciting activity but for an adult, we now know how deep the importance of play really goes. As a child plays, he or she is learning so many important skills that will benefit them as they age and mature. Be sure to provide your child with toys and activities that will strengthen their social skills.

Board Games

Board games, as most know, can be a true test of patience and fair play. These activities are a great way to teach your child about following rules and playing fairly and they also provide a great opportunity to practice the emotional balance between winning and losing. This helps children to learn how to regulate their feelings.

Holiday traditions are a big deal at Little Sapling Toys. Kimber and Nick started this tradition when their oldest, Rex, 10, was just a toddler. They wanted to spread the tradition with their Little Sapling Toy family. Each family member gets one egg to decorate and over time we've grown a special collection that they love to display and reminisce over at springtime.

Your creations will become your collection. Just imagine these decorated eggs lined up on your mantle as a decoration made by your own family members.

Our blank hen eggs are ready for your new Easter family tradition!

These eggs are perfect for the DIYer, the traditionalist, the modern mom, and every kid/kid at heart!

Check out the Gillespie family at work:

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/introducing-the-player-program2018-03-09T08:00:00-08:002018-03-09T08:00:00-08:00Introducing the Player ProgramBrooke Fisher

Little Sapling Family! Thank you for loving our wooden toys as much as we do. We really appreciate you. Without further adieu, I am so excited to share our latest project with you.

Our team has been hard at work putting together something super amazing just for you and your little sapling: The Player Program!

The Player Program is a new way of sharing your collection of toys with family and friends, connecting with other amazing people, and earning some cash while you do it. We'll plant a tree in your honor when you register, you'll have 48-hour access to an exclusive player discount, and the option to plant an additional 50 trees. When you join the program, you will be welcomed into our private community on Instagram called "@playerground" where we will post sneak peeks, contests and other exclusive activities.

If you are interested, register here (the terms and conditions include more details) and within a few hours, you'll receive a welcome email with all the info to get started in the program.

Thanks again for joining us on this exciting new chapter of bringing gorgeous wooden toys and an important mission to a larger audience!

Reach out to players@littlsaplingtoys.com for more information. We can't wait to see you on the playground!

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/party-ideas-for-a-two-year-old2018-02-21T08:30:00-08:002018-02-21T13:17:34-08:00Party Ideas for a Two Year OldBrooke Fisher
Beyond the wooden toys we make, we are self-proclaimed party animals. In today's "party climate" moms and dads can feel a lot of pressure when it comes to party planning. Here are a few ideas for your little one's second birthday that are *a little* original.

Candyland Themed

﻿Modeled after the loved boardgame Candyland, turn your party into a candy-themed wonderland. Make a "candy bar" the center of the party. Give guests the opportunity to pick out some of their favorite candy. Decorations can be simple. Anything colorful will fit with this theme.

Book Themed Party

Having a book themed party is an awesome way to start your little sapling's book collection. Invite guests to bring a book for your little one instead of a card or present. This is an inexpensive and sentimental way to learn more about your loved ones!

Have a whale of a good time with this nautical theme. From anchors to whales, this gender-nuetral party will be a hit. Goldfish crackers will be a hit with the little ones and their parents while still supporting the theme. Plus, grab a whale teether for the tiniest sailors at the party.

If you couldn't tell by our wooden toys and wooden rattles, we worship wood. Every piece tells its own story and is gorgeous in its own way. This is what makes toys made out of wood so amazing! Not one is alike. Our toy company is a little unique, too. If you are new here you may not know why or how we plant a tree for EVERY single wooden toy we sell. You heard that right, one tree per toy. Pretty crazy right?

We are on track to hit over 100,000 by the summer thanks to all of our awesome customers.

Back at the beginning of Little Sapling Toys, we had no clue how impactful purchasing with a purpose was. We donate through Trees for the Future, an awesome charity who plants trees in impoverished countries. These trees boost the economy and well-being of many families in the community. Amazing, right?

The best part of purchasing with a purpose is that you can make a huge impact with one tiny decision. Picture a forest with 100,000. That is what our customers alone have accomplished, and you deserve a huge "THANK YOU" from all of us here at Little Sapling Toys. You are the reason we keep going.

“Child's play” is more than a mere cliché to describe tasks that are easy, frivolous and unimportant in the overall scheme of things. To a child, child's play is essential to their mental, social, emotional and physical development. Children are guided by a natural instinct to play, beginning at birth with unoccupied play that will quickly develop into cooperative play by age four. It's obvious that children love to play but we may not understand the importance of play in a child's life.

There are six major stages of play that a child will develop throughout their early life.

Unoccupied play: the child may not seem to play with others but they are engaged with random movements. This stage paves the way for future play skills.

Solitary play: children tend to play alone with little to no interest of what others around them are doing. This stage of play teaches a child how to entertain themselves.

Onlooker play: when a child watches others but does not participate. They may comment on the activity or ask questions about it.

Parallel play: when children play side-by-side but do not engage directly with each other. They will typically play with similar toys and often times imitate each other. While it looks like there is no social contact during this play they are learning valuable social skills and cues from one another.

Associative play: when children begin to play together without a focus on a common goal. Children may still play with separate toys, but at this stage they begin to actively talk and engage with one another without any set rules of play. They may trade toys or comment on each others' activities.

Cooperative play: children are now interested in both the people they are playing with as well as the activity they are engaging in. Play now focuses on a group of goals or specific tasks.

Play and Physical Development

Play strengthens and refines small and large motor skills while building stamina and strength. Play provides a means for energy to be put to use. It also aids in developing sensory learning by allowing children to explore, learn and make sense of their environment through play.

Play and Learning

Through play children learn basic concepts such as colors, counting and problem solving. Thinking and reasoning skills are at work every time a child engages in some type of play.

Play fulfills many needs including a sense of accomplishment, successfully giving and receiving attention and emotional satisfaction. Children learn about fairness and appropriate ways of expressing and dealing with emotions such as anger, fear, frustration and stress.

Encourage your child to play!

Childhood is fleeting, so take advantage of these short years to help your child develop socially and emotionally. Be creative and be fun! And who knows...you may learn a thing or two along the way.

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/take-it-personally2018-01-30T23:00:00-08:002018-06-23T16:24:26-07:00Take it Personally!Kimber Christensen
Last July we decided to discontinue personalization on our wooden toys to make the transition to a fulfillment center. This was a hard choice for us, but we know that we can increase order accuracy and decrease shipping time by doing this.

But, we have some AMAZING news for you. During the month of FEBRUARY we will be offering personalization ONE LAST TIME. After February we will not be able to personalize anything thereafter.

Each week there will be different toys you can add personalization to. They are as follows:

February 4-10 - Teethers

February 11-17 - Rattles

February 18-23 - Toys

February 25-March 3: Personalized Blocks

If you have any questions about this promotion, please reach out to me directly at customercare@littlesaplingtoys.com and I will be happy to answer any questions. We appreciate your support through this giant transition and thank you for going on this journey with us!

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/new-product-friday-woodland-animals2018-01-25T21:25:00-08:002018-02-01T21:28:06-08:00New Product Friday - Woodland AnimalsBrooke Fisher
One of our best-sellers is our Woodland Animal set. We love this so much, it depicts some of the gorgeous animals you can find in a friendly forest.

We love this set SO MUCH we decided to make the moose part of his own squad! You can now purchase the moose in a TRIO alongside a bird and a beaver. This gorgeous set comes in maple, cherry and walnut.

You can buy the beaver, moose and bird together as one complete set. These little guys are made out of organic wood and are safe for your little sapling to play with for their lifetime.

These tools are safe to play with when your little one wants to help you “fix it.”

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/holiday-party-with-the-team2018-01-09T23:00:00-08:002018-01-21T21:39:02-08:00Holiday Party with the TeamBrooke Fisher
After New Years, we took a Sapling Family trip to an awesome Mongolian BBQ place. If you are anywhere near Springville, Utah check it out. It's right off the freeway! Delicious!

Nick and Kimber have been here a few times, so they were really excited to treat us to one of their favorite places.

If you've never been to a Mongolian BBQ place, let me give you the scoop. You grab a bowl (or three if it's unlimited like the place we went to), fill it up with meats, sauce and veggies and leave it with a master chef.

He then cooks your creation to perfection and ta-da, you've got a sweet stir-fried meal.

My husband Mitch and I (Brooke) loved every bite. It was a struggle to not go back for fourths!

While Briana, head of community and fulfillment, and her husband Tyler weren't wrengling their little one, Teddy (he's the little red head with his back turned watching Moana), they also enjoyed some yummy food!

A.J. and his girlfriend Sammy got into it too. A.J. works side-by-side in the shop with Nick to make your toys for you.

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/our-sapling-holiday2018-01-02T23:00:00-08:002018-01-05T20:39:47-08:00Our Sapling HolidayBrooke Fisher
Nothing brings us more joy than seeing our Little Sapling family enjoying their wooden toys. This year we started a new tradition with the Little Sapling Community on Instagram. Our Instagram friends were asked to use the hashtag #OurSaplingHoliday to share pictures of how they used their LST Christmas loot.

@practicalandpretty says: We are over here singing the praises of @littlesaplingtoys. You all know I have a hard time with “loud” things but these toys are designed so beautifully I could probably use them as home decor. AND they are offering my followers 10% off with code ASH10! So go grab a little stocking stuffer for your favorite kid (perhaps it’s mine I don’t know just a suggestion) 😂 #oursaplingholiday#ad#littlesaplingtoys#newmom#stockingstuffers

@beingtricia says: The holidays definitely feel more special this year now that Zia is two and gets excited about lights and trees and Santa and Rudolph!🎄Trying to remind myself to teach her that Christmas is about way more than getting presents. And have been having fun doing activities like decorating and redecorating the tree. Ha!🎄Ever since she got her @littlesaplingtoysstepping stool she has been moving ornaments around. 🎄Well when she isn’t carrying it up and down stairs to wash her hands.🎄What do you teach your Little’s about Christmas?🎄🎄🎄And if you are looking for gifts for babes and kids I HIGHLY reccomend @littlesaplingtoys !!! Have you see the taco teether?

At the end of this all, we picked two random winners to win $100 to spend in our shop! The rest of the participants got an awesome "new year" discount just for posting. For inspiration for next Christmas check out #OurSaplingHoliday on Instagram!

Our wooden toy company was founded on eco-friendly ideals. With this in mind, we wanted to give back to the community by planting a tree with every toy sold. At this point we have planted over 90,000 trees with the help of Little Sapling community.

The more we get to know people in our community, the more companies we find that also value purchase with a purpose. One of these companies is Cuddle+Kind!

Cuddle+Kind ethically produces gorgeous stuffed dolls for your little ones. Not only are they adorable, they also serve a magical purpose. Every doll purchased helps feed a child in need. 1 doll = 10 meals! Together with their C+K community, they have donated 3,391,838 meals (as of Jan. 21)!How amazing is that?

The next time you are looking to purchase with a purpose, head over to their site! Adorable and fruitful for those in need.

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/painting-trees-with-lst2017-12-20T17:39:00-08:002018-01-05T21:10:21-08:00Painting Trees with LSTBrooke Fisher
One of our favorite traditions is painting wooden trees during the holidays. This is a tradition that everyone can participate in, from grandma to your little sapling it is a hit with them all!

Every year we do this, I am shocked at the amount of creativity that stems from members of our family to the Little Sapling community. Each and every tree is unique and gives everyone to express themselves.

Check out the fun here:

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/caring-for-your-wooden-toys2017-12-13T20:54:00-08:002018-01-05T20:54:39-08:00Caring for Your Wooden ToysBrooke Fisher
We often get asked how you should take care of your Little Sapling wooden toys. Here are a few simple solutions!

For teethers:

Find a mild soap and spot clean with warm, soapy water. Never submerge your teethers in water, this can damage the wood.

For maple blocks and toys:

Find a mild soap and spot clean with warm, soapy water. Never submerge your toys in water, this can damage the wood. You may also want to sand the toys to get the right look.

For walnut and cherry toys:

Find a mild soap and spot clean with warm, soapy water. Never submerge your teethers in water, this can damage the wood. You may also want to sand the toys to get your desired look. If you would like to bring out the natural grain of the wood, you can re-finish your toys with an organic beeswax and jojoba oil. Make your own, or buy a kit from us here.

Our wooden toys are meant to last a lifetime and then some. Keep them looking fresh so they last even longer.

Feel free to reach out to us at customercare@littlesaplingtoys.com!

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https://www.manzanitakids.com/blogs/little-sapling-toys-blog/molar-teethers2017-12-06T21:08:00-08:002018-01-21T21:58:14-08:00Best Teethers for MolarsBrooke FisherTeethers for Back Molars

Sleepless nights, rolling tears and lots of teeth marks on the furniture; your Little Sapling must be teething. Teething can be a doosey for both you and your little one. Through it all, we are here to help with our organic wooden teethers.

We were recently contacted by one of our favorite mamas in regards to her Little Sapling’s back molars. Although adorable, his elephant teether wasn’t quite cutting it anymore because it couldn’t quite reach the back of his mouth.

Unfortunately not all of our teethers reach the back molars at all angles, despite how cute they are. Don’t worry though; you still have a few options when it comes to those tricky back molars.

Our favorite “back molar” teethers include the giraffe, guitar, and some of our state teethers. Each of these have long surface area to make teething as frustration-free as possible.

In addition to the three teethers above, our ring rattle makes for an amazing back molar teether!As some of you may have noticed via social media, our mascot Teddy prefers the rattle for all his back molar woes.